Nuns on the Bus: Gov. Perry ‘oozing’ toward Medicaid expansion

Religious leaders and a lawmaker expressed hope Wednesday that Rick Perry could be the next Republican governor to work with the Obama administration to expand healthcare coverage in the state.

Three nuns listen to speakers and hold signs at a rally to expand Medicaid Wednesday. (Photo by Kolten Parker/San Antonio Express-News)

“We understand that Gov. Perry is moderating his position (on Medicaid) as he sees the needs of real Texans,” said Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice group. “Eventually I think he is going to have to come around because it makes total sense for Texas. We just have to give him enough room so he can save face and he’ll do the right thing.”

Campbell, who has traveled the country with the group Nuns on the Bus since their inception last year, said nine other Republican governors who initially rejected “ObamaCare” have agreed to expand their healthcare programs to meet the coverage requirements of the Affordable Care Act. She expressed hope an agreement would be reached in a special session later this year.

“He’s oozing in our direction,” Campbell said before speaking at a rally of more than a hundred activists and nuns on the south steps of the Capitol.

Religious leaders, nuns and advocacy groups from San Antonio, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth and Corpus Christi traveled by bus to Austin to urge lawmakers and Perry to expand Medicaid, which they say will extend coverage to more than 1.5 million needy Texans who are currently uninsured.

Texas has the highest rate of uninsured residents, 23.8 percent in 2011 — more than 6 million people, according to a report from Billy Hamilton, a former deputy comptroller for the state. The national average is 15.7 percent.

Following a morning rally, a group of four nuns and other representatives delivered more than 500 letters to a staff member in the Governor’s office.

“These are the women of faith who are intimately involved with healthcare and they know what it means for those that are uninsured to have an avenue for coverage,” said state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, who met with advocates at the rally. “I think the (federal government) is willing to work with the Perry administration and with the Legislature to craft something that is workable.”